FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
NEWS RELEASE
May 25, 2021
For press inquiries only, contact:
Mike Lewis (334) 353-2199
Steve Marshall
Joy Patterson (334) 242-7491
Page 1 of 2
Alabama Attorney General
Attorney General Steve Marshall Urges Biden Administration Not to Inject Critical
Race Theory into American History and Civics Classes
(MONTGOMERY) – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall joined a multistate
coalition of 20 attorneys general in urging the Biden administration to reconsider
educational proposals aimed at injecting Critical Race Theory (CRT), the 1619 Project,
and other divisive, intellectually bankrupt political projects into America’s classrooms.
“The Biden administration has wasted no time in co-opting a 2015 federal education
program aimed at advancing a traditional understanding of America history, civics and
government, and turning it into a vehicle to promote the deeply flawed and
controversial teachings of Critical Race Theory in America’s public schools,” said
Attorney General Marshall.
Last month, the U.S. Department of Education proposed new goals for education grants
in American history and civics education so as to prioritize radical racial theory like the
1619 Project in America’s classrooms.
In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona on Wednesday, Attorney
General Marshall and his colleagues urged the Department of Education to review the
directives for teaching “traditional American history” as prescribed in the Every
Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
“Congress made clear that the purpose of the (ESSA) programs is to advance a
traditional understanding of American history, civics, and government,” the letter
states. “The proposed priorities would do little to advance that goal.”
The ESSA was described by the Wall Street Journal as the “largest devolution of federal
control to the states in a quarter century.” The legislation gave authority back to
parents, teachers, and local communities in deciding education policy.
The attorneys general underscored that the proposed Biden administration changes to
the ESSA history and civic education programs would undermine learning and
teaching of civics for America’s students while ignoring real challenges facing
disadvantaged students. “These priorities do precisely the opposite while increasing
discrimination and failing to address crucial issues like the COVID-19 increase in the
achievement gap for students of color, students with disabilities, and students in
poverty.”
501 Washington Avenue * Montgomery, AL 36104 * (334) 242-7300
AlabamaAG.gov Page 2 of 2
“At the very least,” the attorneys general continue, “the Department should make it
clear that it will not fund projects that promote CRT or any projects that characterize the
United States as irredeemably racist or founded on principles of racism (as opposed to
principles of equality) or that purport to ascribe character traits, values, privileges,
status, or beliefs, or that assign fault, blame, or bias, to a particular race or to an
individual because of his or her race.”
Read the letter from the Attorneys General here.
–30–
